The heart is the first organ to form in a developing embryo, and all subsequent life processes depend on its proper function. But a range of genetic and environmental factors can lead to its failure. Inherited mutations give rise to congenital heart disease, the most common birth defect, and abnormalities of the adult heart are a leading cause of illness and death in industrialized countries.

Written and edited by experts in the field, this collection from Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine describes how recent advances in genetics, stem cell biology, and developmental biology are transforming the way we understand and treat heart disease. Contributors review the various cell lineages and molecular networks involved in heart development; the genetic basis of inherited cardiac conditions such as congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathies, and aortic aneurysm; and how various cutting-edge technologies and models are being employed to study heart biology, uncover disease-related processes, and identify therapeutic targets. Topics include tissue engineering, genome editing, stem cells, cardiomyocyte reprogramming, chemically modified RNA, and next-generation DNA sequencing.

The authors also consider the process of drug discovery and development, and the potential for patient-specific treatments and therapies. This volume is a valuable reference for cardiologists, geneticists, and cell and developmental biologists interested in this complex, vital organ and the future of cardiovascular medicine.